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Specialization is for Insects.
Posted on Apr 17, 2007 - 2:44am by John P. in Politics, Videos
I joined the United States Marine Corps when I was 17 years old. More specifically, 5 days after my 17th birthday my mother had to go with me to sign the papers for my enrollment because I wasn’t legally old enough to do it myself (you have to be 18). Believe me, she didn’t want to do it, but I felt it was my duty to defend this country and she respected my decision.
Less than 8 hours after I graduated from high school I was on an airplane to Marine Corp Recruit Depot in San Diego, CA, where I was to spend the next few months of my life. Since that time people have often asked me what USMC Boot Camp was like, often comparing it to the movie Full Metal Jacket. And I tell them in most ways it was actually a lot worse than that movie.
Now there is a documentary called Ears, Open. Eyeballs, Click. which gives you a real view of what it’s like. Watching the clips that follow bring this all back as if it was yesterday – although it was 20 years ago. The thing to keep in mind when you watch these videos is that it’s like this 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for 13 weeks straight.
Before we get started, here is why you join the USMC:
Mom – the ones that come next will probably make you cry. You might not want to watch them…
From the moment you arrive at MCRD the yelling begins. These guys just arrived in San Diego at the airport and aren’t even on the bus yet:
They torture you as a group, then they torture you individually:
And all that is within the first hour!
Later in the training it gets a lot worse:
And don’t forget, a Marine has to be a strong swimmer. In full combat gear!
Finally, when the training is all over and done, platoons can achieve this kind of teamwork:
Semper Fi!
What memories.I was only seventeen also.Dec 28,1955.P.I.
Thanks for sharing.
Seimper Fi
Al
68 was a long time ago. I left for the Island the day I turned 17. It was an experience I’ll never forget. Once a Marine Always a Marine
Semper FI
Schendier
John,
Semper Fi! Thanks for putting this together. I graduated Parris Island in 1983 and remember watching Full Metal Jacket when I got home on leave. I could smell the swamp 800 miles away in my parents living room. You never forget that smell. Serving in the Corps was one of the best memories I have ever experienced.
I commend every Marine who has made it through boot camp, it is one of the hardest experiences in life and the majority of America does not have the courage to go through with it, let alone stay on course and make the military a career.
My only complaint is that boot camp is not the same as it use to be. It is still a huge challenge and I doubted that I was ever able to complete it, but I feel like I did not have as much pride (although I was still more confident leaving than before I left) after I graduated as the previous generations of Marines had.
I prepared for bootcamp in 2007 by getting in the best shape of my life and getting focused on letting the mental abuse make me stronger and accepting the fact that I would transform into an adult. Everyone told me that I would be a different person both mentally and physically when I graduate. While I was ecstatic that I had completed it, I felt cheated.
I was skinnier when I graduated but in worst shape. We ran maybe once a week, and never more than 3 miles. When it came time for punishment it was rarely push ups or other muscle building activities, but rather squating down for an extended amount of time to hurt our knees, walking back and forth, or swallowing sand.
I don’t have the first hand knowledge of Boot Camp in the 90’s and before, but I am certain that those Marines came out more hardened and more prepared for combat. I felt during most of the time that Boot Camp was a process, just getting each recruit through each step, and if he didn’t complete it correctly it was ok, the next recruit was up.
The final straw was when the Series Gunnery Sgt. yelled at us during the crucible and mentioned that we were the worst platoon but that they had to make exceptions for inferiority because they needed bodies for war. Any marine who would believe they have much to contribute to America (and I hope all of them do believe) was shattered by that comment, believing they were bodies rather than contributors.
I was marching home from the crucible, about to get my eagle globe and anchor, proud for never falling out and completing every obstacle, when the marine in front of me during the ceremony was in fresh cammies because he had suffered from heat exhaustion and did not need to do the final march home. I could barely stand and was teary from emotion, while the Marine in front of me (and many others) were there with me gaining something I don’t feel they deserved.
I saw many people transform during Boot Camp. Being 21 when I entered I had already been away from home and it was a little easier for me than for most recruits. I witnessed recruits gaining confidence, losing weight, learning discipline, and more importantly obtaining honor, courage and committment. But I also saw others who were not ready for the military yet still graduated.
The platoons need to be smaller. More DI’s. More personal instruction. More structured physical activity set out by each platoon rather than the company as a whole. Same with Mcmap. Marines are suppose to be the best of the best, but they will lose ground in history if their starting point and base is not the same as it use to be.
While in Bootcamp the following rules were set.
No running unless for PT
No yelling the word “Pain”
Cannot go down the stairs without holding the railing
Must complete 75% of the crucible to graduate
I am proud to be a Marine because I feel I am part of the best, I am giving back to a country I love, and because I know I completed every obstacle in Boot Camp and earned my eagle globe and anchor. I just pray that I will never have to see the integrity of the finest military force in the world lose its superiority and cost lives.
Basic Training created exceptional human beings in the past. Its time to start ignoring the parents and politics and go back to what works.
Devil Dog,
I’m sorry to hear that they’ve “softened” boot camp a bit since I was there in 2000. We ran all the time, yelled the word “pain” all the time, pushed/shoved/ran down stairs never once holding a railing. And if you could not complete all parts of the Crucible, it was up to the company commander to decide if you could graduate. No one in my platoon fell out so I don’t have first hand knowledge of what they’d give you a pass on. We’d do endless (I’m talking HOURS) sessions on the quarterdeck doing all manner of pushups, mountainclimbers, divebombers, running etc. until the floor was slick with sweat.
It annoys me when I hear stories/rumors (who really knows if they’re true or not) about recruits getting fast food as rewards, making phone calls home and other nonesense. Even when I was there the previous generation of Marines complained about it being too soft and now it’s only getting softer. It’s too bad that parents and politically correctness is such a huge influence now.
Who gets fast food, the recruits? I made phone calls home but it was only to tell my parents I was being dropped to MRP and would not be graduating when they thought I was. I was on the Island in 2000 and I remember being, as a platoon, in the pit or on the quarterdeck all the flipping time. We were on the lower deck in my first platoon and the upper deck in my second platoon and it only slowed us down if we used the hand rails, I can’t remember if we were allowed to or not, but I do know if we weren’t down in a certain amount of time we got it.
I Plan of joining the Marines when im older, im 16 right now. I dunno if you guys have heard of it, but i did a program called “Devil Pups”, Without doubt the hardest thing ive ever done. We ran a half mile more than we did the last day every day for 10 days. The Stress, cursing, yelling, and punishments are all similar to Regular Marine Corps boot camp. I hope to God that the Marine Corps isnt getting softer during training, it really does bother me. Like the ARMYs new bootcamp, freaken Devil Pups was harder than that i bet. I agree with the Marine below me, its too bad about the parents and politics, its a damned shame it its true. I hope this reverses itself it it is happening, somthing to be really proud of if, or when, i get through the training.
I leave in 5days i not as nervous as i expected but im going into 3rd battalion i know it will be hard no matter if its soft or not and the USMC is still the greatest most badass military in the entire world!
ill see you on the island brother i leave sept 1st lima com. 3rd bt
im a senior at seventeen. im going to bootcamp in august of 2009. ill be spending my 18th birthday in bootcamp, i heard they were especially hard on you for your birthday, but im still more excited as ever. i love the idea of being a female marine bad ass. 5 more months and ill be there.
Don’t worry Brenna. I spend my 18th birthday in boot camp also, but it was uneventful. ;-)
John P.
I have the same to say as CPL E. I went to bootcamp in Jan 2001 at MCRD, and when I got to the fleet, the seniors were always complaing about how easy bootcamp was compared to the old days. And now, hearing this rumors/stories about how it’s even softer, truly breaks my heart as a Marine. Boot camp was tough for a reason. We scream PAIN for a reason, so that we don’t fear it, but embrace it!
Oh and one more thing, one thing I’ll never forget is how i spent all my Bdays! haha! I went in at 17 yrs old out of highschool as well. My 18th birthday was spent in 29 palms (i was 0341), during the Sept. 11th attacks. My 19th Bday was overseas at Africa, my 20th AND 21st Bday was spent as Duty NCO at the barracks. And though you might think “damn that sucks”, but not really. It was a pleasure to serve my country on my birthdays.
Even if bootcamp really has softened up, don’t worry gents. For those of you going 03xx, when you get to the fleet, your seniors will fill in the gaps. That will never change. Oops, i shouldn’ta said this in public, now those damn politicians and parents are gong to attack the fleet units! :D
Im 14 years old and I wanted to be a Marine since like 3 and im looking forward to it.
I’m working to get into Boot Camp right now. I have one more thing to handle in about a week and then off to MEPS. My recruiter says mid April at the latest for Boot Camp. Though I read all of your stories about how it’s much easier, I am without a doubt that this will be the most challenging, yet rewarding experience of my life. I look forward to it. I can’t wait to join this country’s finest, to see my DI welcome me to the Marine Corps after the Crucible. I can’t wait.
Watching some of the clips brings back a lot of memories, mostly good. I arrived on the Island 22 Feb 2000 and did not get off until 15 Dec 2000. It took so long to graduate due to many many stress fractures and a couple of broken bones, but I made it.
Thanks for the memories.
I am disappointed the videoclips were reviewed due to youtube violations, but a definite thanks for sharing.
I’m excited about making the choice to join. I’m only in the process of testing, but if I pass, I will definitely be amongst the others joining bootcamp. I look forward to it.
boot camp was a joke, everyone graduates. There will always be marines that slip through the cracks. But you will always need those turds to clean the barracks and CP, heck they even clean my office. I work in the s-4. grad PI in dec 06.